St. Louis @ Milwaukee preview
Miller Park
Last Meeting ( May 19, 2013 ) Milwaukee 2, St. Louis 4
If the St. Louis Cardinals are going to win the National League Central, they'll have to continue their strong play in division rivals' home parks - beginning with Monday's opener of a three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cardinals, who are 30-21 against NL Central foes, play 25 of their 39 remaining games against their division rivals - with 13 of those on the road. St. Louis is one game behind division-leading Pittsburgh and 1 1/2 games ahead of Cincinnati for the top wild-card spot.
The Brewers' goals aren't as lofty, namely holding off the Chicago Cubs in the race to stay out of the NL Central cellar. Milwaukee has pulled a half-game ahead of the Cubs after winning or splitting its last four series, including a four-game split with Cincinnati over the weekend. The Brewers look to solve Cardinals rookie Shelby Miller, who is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two starts against them this year.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Shelby Miller (11-8, 2.97 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Marco Estrada (5-4, 4.71)
Miller suffered a scare when he took a line drive off his throwing elbow Aug. 7 and left after only two pitches, but he didn't miss any time. He wasn't his sharpest last time out, though, surrendering two home runs and giving up five runs - three earned - over six innings in a loss to Pittsburgh. The 22-year-old has 13 strikeouts and one walk in 13 innings against the Brewers.
Estrada has been solid in two starts since coming back from a two-month stint on the disabled list, allowing only one run in 11 innings. He picked up his first win since May 24 last time out, holding Texas to one run on four hits over six innings. The 30-year-old has not fared well against St. Louis, going 0-4 with a 6.55 ERA in 10 games (five starts), including a loss earlier this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cardinals lead the season series 8-2 and swept a four-game set in their last trip to Milwaukee.
2. Cardinals OF Jon Jay is hitting .377 with 15 RBIs in 17 games this month. He hit his first home run since July 3 in Sunday's win over the Cubs.
3. Brewers rookie LF Khris Davis is 11-for-30 with four home runs and nine RBIs over his past 10 games. He has scored at least one run in nine of them.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Brewers 2